Improvement in spice-boxes



l. SEARS.

Spice-Boxes. No. 141,595. Pat ented Aug ust5,1873

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WITNESSES: v INVENTOR:

. By Attorneys.

AM. PHO'IUUTHUGRAPII/C (:0 M! (Mao/Ma's measles) UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JOSEPH SEARS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

lMPROVEMENT IN SPICE-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,595, dated August 5, 1873; application filed February 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osErn SEARS, of Ohicago, in the county'of (Jock and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Boxes for Spice and other Condiments, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to what are known as dredge-top spice-boxes; and consists in an improvement by which a dredge-top can be applied to a parallel-sided box, the perforated cap-plate which opens and closes the perforations in the box-top having a rectilinear motion, and being swagcd or stamped in connection with the box-top, as hereinafter described, with reflexed edges curved around depressions in longitudinal ribs or ridges, or within longitudinal cavities in the box-top, so as to cause the edges to fit and hug closely together, and thus prevent the escape of the finely-powdered contents of the box. The cap-plate is held in contact with the cover by means of lips, or a rivet or pin projectin g from the former and working in a longitudinal slot in the latter, or lips on the cover occupying notches in the edges of the capplate, the length of the slot or notches permitting the requisite movement of the cap-plate to cover or disclose the perforations, as required.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spice-box illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same 011 the line 00 00, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof on the line 3 3 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan of the box top, illustrating a modification.

A represents the body of the box, and B its top or cover, which is made with perforations b b over its surface, and a longitudinal slot, d, in its center, the latter being for the reception of a pin or rivet, e, or suitable lips, by which the sliding perforated plate 0 is attached beneath the cover, the said slot limiting the movement of the plate 0, and the perforations being correspondingly arranged in the said plate and in the box-top, so that at one extremity'of the movement the perforations will be open and at the other end they will be closed. The box-top and the perforated plate being placed together are swagcd or stamped at one operation into the form shown in the drawings, the effect of which is to cause the edges of the cap-plate to spring in close contact with the cover, so as to form tight joints.

The cap-plate may, if preferred, be arranged to work on the outside or top of the cover, instead of underneath, its edges being guided and held down by lips f, turned up from the cover, or soldered thereon, and occupying notches in the edges of the cap-plate. This modification is illustrated in Fig. 4.

I am aware that dredge -boxes have before been made with sliding perforated caps, and that, in some instances, these have been made of curved form. I therefore do not claim a sliding, curved, and perforated cap-plate, excepting when the same is formed with longitudinal ribs, as herein set forth, causing the edges of the cap-plate to bear with an elastic pressure on the box-top, and thus prevent the entrance and escape of the powdered contents 7 of the box between the plates.

I claim as new The combination of a box-top and cap-plate, swagcd or stamped together with corresponding corrugations, or ribs and depressions, to keep them in close contact, the cap-plate having a sliding movement upon or beneath the box-top, substantially as herein set forth.

. JOSEPH SEARS.

Witnesses:

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, WALTER ALLEN. 

